Holidaymakers are being warned to expect more travel headaches this weekend for the start of the great half-term getaway, as Heathrow finally returns to normality after cancelling a string of flights for three days in a row because of 7cm of snow.

A Virgin Atlantic plane lands in the fog at Heathrow Airport, West London, as freezing temperatures continued (Picture: PA)

Heathrow airport cancelled about 40 flights while thousands of rail passengers were hit by delays yesterday.

Now Britain’s busiest airport is set for a light dusting of snow this weekend, according to the Met Office.

It’s predicted that no more than 1cm will fall, creating a dusting of snow for the airport to contend with.

Heathrow controversially cancelled more than half of Sundayâs scheduled flights and a third of Monday’s.

A Heathrow spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: ‘We are watching the weather closely. We are working with our forecast providers to get an accurate picture as possible over this weekend over how much snow, if any, we should expect.’

Yesterday passengers said they did not understand why so little snow had caused such problems.

Heathrow defended the cancellations, with a spokesman saying: âBy cancelling flights in advance, airlines have been able toÂ rebook some people on to flights that are departing, and passengers have had better quality information about whether they can fly or not.â

Schools were also forced to close and drivers across the country faced treacherous conditions on the roads as the country struggled to cope with the wintry conditions.

In Yorkshire, a 25-mile long section of the A1 was closed for several hours after a number of collisions, while three pedestrians were badly hurt when a car skidded in snow in Co. Durham.

A man in Morpeth, Northumberland, also had to be rescued after plunging into an icy river to save a strangerâs dog.

The Met Office warned of a continuing risk of ice on untreated roads and pavements as this weekâs overnight temperatures fall.

Forecaster Helen Chivers said further snow showers were forecast for parts of eastern England this morning. And the mercury could plunge lower than -12C (10F) in the Midlands and north tonight or tomorrow â breaking the record for the coldest night of the winter so far.

Fed-up travellers wait at Heathrow (Picture: LNP)

But Ms Chivers added: âBy the second half of the month, it looks like the weather will start coming back from the Atlantic with periods of rain, stronger winds and temperatures around about normal.â

Rail services continued to be affected by the wintry conditions yesterday with trains into London from East Anglia particularly hard hit.